A hint of charm, unique to a Perfect Maid, shimmered in Belfast's eyes. The subtle scent of soap that lingered on her skin seemed to intensify, becoming almost tangible in the stillness.
This suggestive tone, this breath mere inches away—everything about her declared her intent to regain her dignity after being caught off guard moments ago.
However, Jun Hao didn't seem to pick up on what she was trying to tell him. He just let out a quiet, bitter laugh.
"If I had a choice... I'd prefer to stand outside and talk to them directly."
Belfast blinked in surprise, the faint glow in her purple eyes flickering in the dim light.
She'd expected the Commander to stay with her and enjoy the rare chance they had to be alone.
Even so, she wasn't bothered that it hadn't gone the way she imagined. Her brows lifted slightly as a new idea quietly took shape in her mind.
Before putting her new plan into motion, however, she needed to satisfy a small curiosity of her own.
"Why, Master? Wouldn't it be safer to remain here? At the very least, you'd be spared the headache of Miss Akagi and Miss Taihou arguing outside."
Jun Hao answered right away. His voice rang clear and resolute in the cramped space of the wardrobe.
"The reason's simple. I'm the Commander."
There was no special emphasis in his tone, yet the words carried an unshakable conviction.
Belfast watched him closely, waiting for him to continue.
Jun Hao paused for a moment, then met her gaze despite the darkness surrounding them.
"No Commander would willingly hide in a wardrobe like a thief, and no Commander would shy away from standing tall before his own soldiers. Moreover..."
His voice softened noticeably at that moment.
"You're not just my soldiers. You're all my wives."
"!!!"
A wave of warmth erupted from Belfast's Wisdom Cube, flooding through every inch of her body.
She could tell that right now, she was blushing way harder than when he'd pinned her against the wall earlier.
If the wardrobe had not been so dim, she was absolutely certain her current expression would have been unbearably embarrassing.
At the very least, it was definitely not an expression a "Perfect Maid" should have.
'Wife... he actually said... wife... even though those words have long been carved into my heart...'
In her dreams, she had heard him say it over and over, each time with a different voice.
But when this word came from his lips so genuinely and solemnly, the impact it brought far exceeded her imagination.
Belfast inhaled deeply, forcing down all the emotions bubbling up inside while trying to steady her breathing. She had to pull herself together.
She couldn't let her Master throw her off like this again. So she put on a sly smile and shifted to a more teasing tone.
"Master, what you just said... is exactly what a typical 'playboy' would say."
A hint of mischief showed in her eyes as she went on, "Declaring to every girl that 'you are my wife' is bound to invite certain 'complications' you might not be prepared for."
She'd expected her provocation to rattle the Commander, even slightly. But Jun Hao's reaction caught her off guard again.
"You're right, I won't deny it." His reply came effortlessly, stripped of any shame or deflection. "If loving all of you makes me a 'playboy'... then I guess that's what I am. What I feel for each of you is real."
He stopped for a second, putting more feeling into his voice this time.
"I might act a little different with each of you. But I can promise you, one hundred percent, that every single one of you has a spot in my heart that no one else can fill. So, being a bit broadly loving isn't really that bad."
"..."
Belfast found herself utterly at a loss for words.
It was the first time she had ever heard someone admit so openly and shamelessly to being "broadly loving" the way Jun Hao just had.
Pfft..." She couldn't hold it in and started laughing. "Master, you're really unbelievable."
Her voice held a mix of helplessness and admiration. Once again, she had to admit she'd been completely won over.
As her laughter faded, silence filled the cramped space. Belfast peeked through the crack at the two figures continuing their endless bickering outside.
A knowing smile slowly curved at the corners of her mouth once more.
"Look, Master. Their relationship is as good as ever."
Jun Hao looked through another crack, completely confused.
"Good? From what I can see, they're about to tear each other apart."
Belfast chuckled softly but offered no direct explanation. Instead, she spoke in a faintly wistful tone, almost as if she were talking to herself.
"Isn't it admirable? Miss Akagi and Miss Taihou can face each other so honestly. They can lay bare their most genuine, unfiltered selves."
Belfast let out a small sigh before continuing, "Happiness is happiness, anger is anger, jealousy is jealousy. There's no need to worry whether such honesty appears proper or improper. No need to drain oneself maintaining some illusory 'perfect' facade."
Her voice grew softer with each word, almost fading away at the end. There was a small hint of envy in it, something Jun Hao had never heard from her before.
This stirred something in his heart. He seemed to understand.
As Head Maid of the Royal Maid Corps, Belfast had always represented elegance, control, and absolute perfection.
No matter how complicated the circumstances, she managed them effortlessly. That flawless, gracious, measured smile never once left her features.
This very perfection had turned her into a living symbol of the Royal Faction itself. Maintaining such a flawless image was undoubtedly an enormous burden.
Jun Hao, now understanding, opened his mouth to speak, but a cold, mechanical prompt sounded in his mind without warning.
[Ding! Detected Belfast's true emotional need: "A desire to be understood for the exhaustion and restraints buried deep within her heart."]
[Would you like to accept this special emotional mission?]
His gaze shifted between the system panel and Belfast, who was quietly watching Akagi and Taihou's quarrel with a bit of envy showing on her face.
'Accept! I have to accept! As the Commander, meeting their emotional needs is both my duty and my responsibility!'
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Novels Available:
-> Zenless Zone Zero: The Almighty Incubus of Sixth Street. (Translation)
-> Azur Lane: Don't Fight! You're All My Wives! (Translation)
-> Zenless Zone Zero: Death in White. (Original)
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